OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – If you get a call from an area code not familiar to you, that may be because it’s brand new. Nebraska’s new 531 area code will soon be used for new lines in the eastern third of the state. The state Public Service Commission said Monday that phone companies are running out of numbers in the 402 area code. Regulators began planning for the new area code roughly a decade ago.

Cullen Roberts with the state Public Service Commission says a number of the last 402 prefixes were assigned this spring when a phone company started offering new services. The new 531 area code will be overlaid on top of the 402 area, so current 402 customers won’t be forced to switch phone numbers.

But all calls in the area will require the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report three arrests over the holiday weekend. 18-year old Tyler Ray Osborn, of Walnut, was arrested at around 2-a.m. Saturday on charges that include Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges stem from a traffic stop on Main Street, in Exira. Osborn was cited and released. He’s set to appear in court Thursday morning.

Also arrested Saturday in Audubon County, was 22-year old Dilan Seth Olesen, of Audubon. OIesen was taken into custody at around 10-p.m. following a traffic stop in Exira. He’s been charged with OWI/3rd offense, Driving While Revoked and Open Container. Olesen later appeared before the magistrate and was released, with a preliminary hearing set for July 24th.

And on Sunday, deputies in Audubon County arrested 19-yearold Jesse James Svoboda, of Audubon. The young man was charged with OWI/1st offense, and Possession of Alcohol. He was later released for custody after appearing before a magistrate. Olesen is set to appear for his preliminary hearing on July 24th.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) – A meteorologist at a Detroit-area television station has been injured in a fireworks accident in Iowa. WXYZ-TV says its chief meteorologist, Dave Rexroth, on Wednesday is to undergo surgery that will begin the process of implanting a prosthetic eye.

According to the station, Rexroth lost sight in his left eye during a fireworks mishap Friday night that occurred while he was vacationing with his family in Iowa City. In response to a request for information on the incident, an Iowa City police spokesman said he doesn’t have a report that lists Rexroth’s name.

WXYZ says Rexroth is expected to recover by September. General manager Ed Fernandez says Rexroth and his family have the station’s “full support during this difficult time,” and he looks forward to Rexroth’s return.

Police in Atlantic arrested a local man Sunday. Officials say 36-year old Richard Smith, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a warrant charging him with Domestic Abuse. Smith was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet this (Tuesday) morning in Greenfield. During their 9-a.m. session, the Board will discuss and possible act on: Township clerk wages; A Township Clerk/Trustee Questions Resolution, and a Courtyard Use Permit.

At 9:15, Sheriff Brad Newton is expected to present information with regard to the hiring of Jeff Vandewater as deputy, and at 9:30, a public hearing will be held with regard to the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimate for a Secondary Roads Department Office Building.

Bids for the proposed 3,500 square foot building have reportedly come in much higher than estimated, with $646,656 being the lowest bid. The County bonded $600,000 for the project, which was estimated to cost $450,000. The Board is expected to reject all bids and find ways to reduce the cost of the building.

(Updated 10-a.m.)

A fireworks accident in a subdivision on the southeast side of Council Bluffs Friday night caused serious injuries to an adult male. Pottawattamie County Jeff Danker told KJAN News the incident happened at a party at around 10:30-p.m. at a party located at 13660 220th Street.

Danker says a man in his 30’s had an M-80 firecracker explode in his hand as he attempted to light it. The device severed the hand at the wrist. The victim was flown by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for treatment of “Very severe injuries.”

The victim was later identified as 30-year old Cole Mayer, of Council Bluffs. Bystanders placed tourniquets on Mayer’s arm to try and stop the bleeding. Crews with Lewis Township Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to treat Mayer as well, before he was loaded onto the chopper. The incident remains under investigation.

M-80’s are illegal to possess in Iowa. Danker says he hasn’t seen any here in quite a while. They’re about 2 inches long and cylindrical. When they go off they create a very loud “bang,” and Danker says they are obviously very dangerous, as evidenced by the incident Friday night.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Updated 8:15-a.m.)

A police chase early this (Monday) morning that started in Council Bluffs ended with one person taken into custody in Downtown Omaha. KETV in Omaha reports the chase began at around 1:30-a.m. after construction tools were stolen from a construction site on North 16th Street, in Council Bluffs.

The car, which was described as being a Ford Escort, ran over “stop sticks” set down by police during the pursuit. The device caused the vehicles’ tires to blow out. The unidentified suspect took off on foot but Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol and officers with the Omaha Police Department, eventually caught up with the suspect in the area of 13th & Dodge. Charges against the man are not yet known.

While the World Cup soccer tournament is almost over, it’s being announced that another sport’s World Cup event will be held in Omaha-Council Bluffs. The metro area will host the 2017 World Cup Finals in equestrian jumping and dressage. Lisa Roskens, chair of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation, says there was tough competition from other cities around the globe.  “They selected finalists of London, Hong Kong, Omaha and a city called ‘s-Hertogenbosch, which is a horse mecca in the Netherlands that’s hosted multiple World Cups,” Roskens says. “We were really up against some stout competition and really, truly were the underdog in this bidding process.”

She says this will be a world-class competition that will draw up to 90-thousand people to western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.   “You will hear languages from every corner of the globe,” Roskens says. “It is a truly international championship and a very exciting competition. The other thing that makes 2017 such a special year is you will get to see the people that were just competing at the Olympics the previous summer.” She says she’s hoping this is just the start of something very good.

“The Midwest is a region ripe for this kind of competition and for this sport to grow,” Roskens says. “I really wanted to use this type of an event as a catalyst to grow our sport across the region.” The equestrian World Cup Finals will be held at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha March 27th through April 2nd of 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Sunday evening of a woman wanted for allegedly violating the terms of her probation. 18-year old Casandra Jane Daughtery, of Red Oak, was arrested on a valid Page County warrant at around 6:20-p.m., in an apartment on South 2nd Street. Daugherty was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $500 cash bond.